Ford Explorer Complaints (2000)
1,026 consumer complaints on file.
- #10287352October 14, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. SEVERAL YEARS AGO I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS VERY COMMON IN FORD VEHICLES. NOW JUST A FEW YEARS LATER I'M HAVING TRANSMISSION ISSUES AGAIN. THE CAR IS JOLTING AHEAD WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. AND ALSO NOT WANT TO GET INTO THE NEXT GEAR PROPERLY. I AM NOW TOLD THAT I HAVE TO REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY. IT SEEMS THESE VEHICLES HAVE WAY TOO MANY TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10282921September 4, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ON AUGUST 28, 2009 I WAS DRIVING WITH MY HUSBAND AND TWO CHILDREN UNDER AGE 2 ON THE MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE WHEN OUR 2000 FORD EXPLORER SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I COULD NOT STOP THE CAR WITH THE BRAKES AND WAS FORCED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO FINALLY GET THE CAR TO STOP. I WAS USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT THE TIME AND HAD IT SET JUST UNDER 70 MPH. MY CAR AT ONE POINT WAS GOING ALMOST 90 AS WE TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WHILE MY FOOT WAS ALL THE WAY ON THE BRAKE. WE WERE LUCKY TO HAVE SURVIVED THIS INCIDENT. A LOCAL GARAGE SAID THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL MUST HAVE STUCK AND THEY HAVE DISCONNECTED THE WIRES BUT NOW LEAVE US WITH DAMAGE TO THE CAR WE ARE STILL TRYING TO DIAGNOSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10282533September 1, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER . THE CONTACT STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. SHE THEN PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. SHE THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND DROVE DIRECTLY TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FROM A CRACK IN THE CYLINDER HEAD OF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER OWNERS EXPENSE. WHEN IT WAS AT THE DEALER SHIP THEY TOOK THE VEHICLE APART WITHOUT THE DRIVERS PERMISSION. THE DRIVER CALLED AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE BUREAU OF AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THEY USED A DEFECTIVE ENGINE FOR THE 2000 FORD MODELS AND FOUND OUT AFTER A YEAR AND THAT'S WHY THE Y DISCONTINUED USING THAT SPECIFIC ENGINE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93104 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 93300.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10277057July 16, 2009ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TOTAL BATTERY DRAIN WITHIN 48 HOURS OF CHARGE....ALTERNATOR CHECKS OK....BATTERY CHECKS OK....REGULATOR CHECKS OK... *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10275510July 1, 2009INTERIOR LIGHTING
ON THIS DATE I EXAMINED THE 2000 FORD EXPLORER INTERIOR LIGHT LOCATED ABOVE THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD IS A TWO LIGHT ASSEMBLY. ONE OF THE LIGHTS WAS OPERATIONAL, WHILE THE SECOND WOULD ONLY OPERATE WHEN THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS JIGGLED, GOING FROM OFF TO ON, TO DIM. THE CONTACT POINTS FOR THE LIGHTS IS A THIN COPPER STRIP WHICH ENCOMPASSES EACH LIGHT. THE STRIP IS FRAGILE AND THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHTS CAUSED THE COPPER STRIP TO SEPARATE AND MELTED THE PLASTIC ASSEMBLY TO MELT INTO THE LIGHT FIXTURE AND CAUSING FAILURE IN BOTH LIGHTS. THIS RESULTED IN FAILURE OF ALL INTERIOR LIGHTING EXCEPT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. DIFFICULTY IN LOCATING SEAT BELTS, LOCATING DROPPED KEYS, INSURING SAFETY OF PASSENGERS. HAVING PASSENGER READ DIRECTIONS OR MAPS AFTER DARK IS NOW IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT A FLASHLIGHT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10275382June 30, 2009VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 2000 FORD EXPLORER XLT CAUGHT ON FIRE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. MY DAUGHTER AND I WERE AT A FRIEND'S HOUSE, WE WERE IN THE PROCESS OF BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVE WHEN SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I PULLED THE CAR OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT IT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, THE SMOKE GOT MUCH WORSE. MY DAUGHTER AND I GOT OUT OF THE EXPLORER JUST AS IT WAS CATCHING FIRE. WE CALLED 911, THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE WHOLE INCIDENT IS UNBELIEVABLE, WE ARE SHOCKED. MY INSURANCE ADJUSTER INFORMED ME THAT IT WASN'T UNCOMMON AND MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL. I BOUGHT MY EXPLORER IN INDIANA, BUT HAVE MOVED TO TENNESSEE. I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL, I'M STILL WAITING ON MY INSURANCE COMPANY TO GET BACK WITH ME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10273390June 5, 2009EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
2000 FORD EXPLORER HAD SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN USING THE TURN SIGNALS. *NJ THE DEALER REPLACED THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10268321May 10, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY FIRST CAR WAS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER AND I COULD NOT BE MORE DISAPPOINTED WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS VEHICLE. ALTHOUGH I HAVE HAD THE CAR NOW FOR A FEW YEARS, IT HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME MINOR ISSUES WITH THE CAR THAT ARE EXPECTED WITH NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. HOWEVER AT ONLY ABOUT 60,000 MILES I STARTED HAVING VERY BAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. THE O/D LIGHT FLASHES NEARLY EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR AND THE TRANSMISSION (AUTOMATIC) SKIPS EVERY TIME AFTER FIRST GEAR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I REALIZED THAT THIS IS NOT A RANDOM OCCURRENCE. THERE ARE NUMEROUS FORD EXPLORER OWNERS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM AND FORD HAS YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND HELP FIX THIS PROBLEM. I INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST MY CAR POSSIBLY GETTING OLD, HOWEVER AFTER SPENDING HOURS RESEARCHING MY PROBLEM I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THIS IS NOT AN AGE ISSUE. I ALSO DO NOT HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON MY CAR. UNFORTUNATELY I DO NOT HAVE THE $2000+ TO COMPLETELY REPLACE MY TRANSMISSION WHICH APPARENTLY SEEMS TO BE MY ONLY OPTION. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE EVERY TIME I TURN IT ON AND START DRIVING THESE PROBLEMS OCCUR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267934May 7, 2009LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DOORS CANNOT BE OPENED FROM WITHIN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. HE ASSUMED THAT THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WERE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. HE FOUND SEVERAL CONSUMERS ONLINE WHO WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS FAILURE AND COULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 108,000. UPDATED 06/23/09. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO GET THE DOORS TO WORK. UPDATED 06/23/09.*JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10268155May 7, 2009SEATS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT WAS RECLINING FARTHER THAN NORMAL. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE AND SAT BACK, THE SEAT FAILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL WEAR ON THE SEAT AND IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 93,924.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10267442May 1, 2009POWER TRAIN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. EVER SINCE AUGUST OF 2007, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE SWITCHING OUT OF GEAR INTERMITTENTLY. THE BRAKES, ROTORS, ALTERNATOR, MOTOR MOUNT, PULLEY ASSEMBLY, ALL THE BELTS, AND TIRES WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. ON MAY 1, 2009, WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A SUBWAY STATION AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SWITCHED INTO REVERSE AND THE CONTACT ALMOST STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN. AN OFFICER WITNESSED THE FAILURE AND ADVISED HIM TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,540.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10266823April 27, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
SPARK PLUG CLOSEST TO DRIVER DOES NOT SEAT AND COMES OUT. NOT A FULL BLOW OUT OF IT, BUT THE PLUG FEELS REAL LOOSE. I TRIED NEW PLUG BUT IT STILL FEELS LOOSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10266348April 22, 2009SEAT BELTS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THROUGH AN INTERSECTION AN ONCOMING VEHICLE BROADSIDED THE DRIVER SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL ONCE AND IT LANDED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THE PASSENGER SEAT BELT FAILED TO KEEP THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED. NO ONE WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE BUT THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK AND THE PASSENGER WAS THROWN AROUND INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS PRESENTED A SAFETY RISK AND DID NOT OPERATE PROPERLY DURING THE CRASH. NO ONE OTHER THAN THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES. SHE FRACTURED 5 RIBS ON HER LEFT SIDE AND HAD A HIMATOMA ON HER RIGHT ARM. BOTH PASSENGERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AT SPEAKING WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 57,000. UPDATED 05/08/09 *BF UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO STAY LATCHED. UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10263238March 27, 2009VISIBILITY
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE IN THE HOUSE, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SOUND COMING FROM OUTSIDE. SHE EXITED THE HOUSE AND NOTICED THAT THE REAR WINDOW WAS SHATTERED ON HER VEHICLE. SHE DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ONLINE PERTAINING TO THE REAR WINDOW FAILURE, BUT THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT. SHE INITIALLY THOUGHT THAT SOMEONE SHOT THE GLASS WITH A GUN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 186,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10261961March 16, 2009LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY DRIVER'S DOOR WAS CONSTANTLY GETTING JAMMED. THE LOCK WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN I HIT THE POWER LOCK BUTTON. SO NOW MY DOOR OPENS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10256479January 27, 2009VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2000 FORD EXPLORER SELF IGNITED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 4 HOURS. ALSO CAUGHT CAR ON FIRE THAT WAS IN DRIVEWAY AHEAD OF IT, LANDSCAPING, TV CABLE AND OUTSIDE CORNER OF HOUSE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10255291January 16, 2009LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY DRIVER'S DOOR KEEPS GETTING JAMMED. I HAVE TO SOMETIMES CRAWL OVER THE SEAT TO GET OUT OF THE TRUCK. THE LOCK ARE CONSTANTLY GETTING STUCK TO THE POINT I CAN'T MANUALLY EVEN PULL THEM UP ANYMORE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10254467January 10, 2009LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOCK GETS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION RANDOMLY. THIS OCCURS BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED. IT ALSO EFFECTS THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT A YEAR NOW. IT IS DRIVING ME CRAZY. I HAVE TO CRAWL OVER THE PASSENGER SEAT AND WIGGLE THE HANDLE WHILE TRYING TO PULL UP THE LOCK MANUALLY. I WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK THE HANDLE. AFTER A LITTLE RESEARCH I FOUND 100'S IF NOT 1,000'S OR MORE PEOPLE ON THE INTERNET THAT HAVE THE SAME EXPERIENCE. MANY ARE CALLING FOR A RECALL. JUST GOOGLE " FORD EXPLORER DRIVER'S DOOR WON'T UNLOCK" OR THIS LINK HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/EXPLORER/1998/ACCESSORIES-INTERIOR/DRIVERS_DOOR_WONT_UNLOCK.SHTML THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10254084January 7, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, ANOTHER DRIVER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. SHE PULLED OVER ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED FLAMES UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND THE HOOD. THE CONTACT QUICKLY REMOVED HER CHILDREN AND CHILD SEAT FROM THE VEHICLE. IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, THE HOOD BURST INTO FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE JUNKYARD. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE COMPLETE COVERAGE. THE MIAMI MIDWAY POLICE DEPARTMENT FILED REPORT NUMBER PPOC9A02C02188. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 96,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- Yes
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10253720January 4, 2009POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I NOTICED A SLIGHT HESITATION IN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR ONCE IN A WHILE YESTERDAY. WITHIN 5 MILES THE O/D LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND BY THE TIME I GO HOME(LUCKILY)5 MILES LATER, REVERSE WAS NOW NOT WORKING. I HAVE A CAR THAT HAS ALREADY HAD 1 TRANSMISSION REPLACED, NEEDING ANOTHER ONE. I AM EXTREMELY LUCKY THAT I DID NOT GET STRANDED!!!! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0